ISLAMABAD, June 29: An official spokesman has clarified that the office of the President was in no way concerned or associated with the subject of the 7th Wage Board Award nor was there any intention of placing curbs on the national media in any way as was being incorrectly projected through a sustained newspaper advertisement campaign appearing in a section of the national press.

The Award is a sequel to an Act of Parliament, which was passed in 1973. The spokesman said President General Pervez Musharraf was a firm believer in the freedom of the media and this fact had been amply demonstrated by the liberal policies introduced by him during his tenure as the chief executive.

During this period the national print and electronic media had seen unprecedented freedom and growth, never witnessed before in the history of the country. The spokesman hoped that the 7th Wage Board Award, which is an issue between the newspaper owners and their employees would be resolved sooner rather than later to the satisfaction of all concerned.

The President has directed the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Labour to also facilitate the stakeholders in resolving the issue. -APP